Federer wins seventh Basel title

Roger Federer held off a spirited performance from rival Rafael Nadal to win the Swiss Indoors Basel final on Sunday.

The Swiss Maestro edged the former world number one 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 on the hard courts of his hometown in Basel, Switzerland.

Federer's hyper-aggressive tennis was on full display once again, as he brushed aside the Spaniard after two breaks of serve in the opening set.

However, the second set was tight affair, with Nadal rising to the challenge and saving a crucial break point while serving 3-2 down.

Nadal's save and his fighting spirit paid dividends, as he would clinch his first break of serve in the match to go 5-6 up, after which he served out the set to force a decider.

The 14-time grand slam winner would double fault in his second service game in the final set, but again he fought back to hold serve.

But Federer was simply too good on serve – firing 13 aces in the match – and Nadal would eventually succumb to the pressure as the Swiss broke him in the crucial eight game and would held his service game to secure a record seventh title in Basel.